Patient Stories

The specialists in UW Health's ENT clinics are experts in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery. Our clinics provide a wide range of general and specialized care for adults and children.

New advances in surgical techniques and expert care provided by internationally recognzied surgeons has made a significant difference in the quality of life for patients. Meet a few of our patients, and hear their stories through the following videos.

Kade Hanegraaf

Imagine living with someone who screamed more than 1,000 times a day, at the decibel level louder than a lawn mower. The Hanegraaf family of Appleton, Wis., lived in misery for three and a half years until a UW Health surgeon came up with a solution.

Jacob's Story

At age 19, Jacob Marshall already had more than 36 surgeries. And it's likely he will need many more. Marshall suffers from a rare condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a disease that affects only three to five people out of 100,000. Small benign growths grow and re-grow on Jacob's larynx, in and around his vocal folds. When the growths get too large, they begin to affect his ability to speak and breathe.

Dr. Amy Servais

There were times with Dr. Amy Servais, a family physician from the Fox Valley, could barely be heard speaking when there was background noise. Complications from surgery left her with a paralyzed vocal cord and she often struggled to be heard. Patients always thought she was sick. Communicating with her own children was equally challenging.

Servais turned to Dr. Seth Dailey, UW Health otolaryngologist, for a solution. Through a surgical procedure, Dr. Dailey helped the vocal cords actually close and restore Servais's voice. After follow up therapy to relearn how to talk without compensating for the hoarseness, Servais can now speak clearly no matter the situation.

Dr. Jack Swanson

As a palliative care physician in Neenah, Dr. Jack Swanson relies on his voice. When he increasingly experienced hoarseness, he made appointment for an examination. When lesions were discovered on the vocal cords, the physician recommended surgical removal.

Swanson consulted with Dr. Seth Dailey, UW Health otolaryngologist. White lesions can be a sign or cancer or precancer, and in Swanson's case were actually both. Dr. Dailey recommended laser removal of the lesions. The minimally invasive procedure successfully treated Swanson's cancer, and helped his voice return to full volume.